Are the Texans finally starting to climb out of the basement in the AFC South?

This blog entry was entered by Thomas Hilton, the previous blog host. We honor his memory by carrying on what he created here.

Thomas Eric Hilton

1972-2008

As I am reading over the list of free agent signings and free agent losses the Texans have endured this off-season, I have people all the time ask me if the Texans are going to finally make the playoffs this year, or at least come close to it? I never really have a solid answer for anyone, because I have no idea. As a fan, I would like to think they will, but in reality, maybe our team is still a few years away. That’s too difficult of an outcome to predict at this stage of the team’s rebuilding process.

I do like the additions of this off-season. When I mean additions, I am not speaking of just players, like LB Kevin Bentley or RB Chris Brown. What about the addition of Center Chris Meyers in which we acquired from the Broncos for a 6th round pick? He could make a big difference on that OL in protecting Schaub.

Andre Davis, Will Demps and N.D. Kalu were big re-signs for this team. I think they’re going to really make huge strides this season now that Gibbs and Rhodes have been added to coaching staff. Is Jacques Reeves going to intimidate quarterbacks and receivers? Maybe. Maybe not. Regardless though, we really needed to get some bodies into those positions that resemble some type of NFL secondary.

What’s really going to fill in the rest of this 10,000 piece puzzle is what happens in the draft. Whether the Texans trade their 18th pick and move down, trade Sage and gain additional picks, or even just stay put and pick when it’s the Texans time to pick, Kubiak and crew seem to find talent in the most unlikely places. If the last two drafts weren’t flukes and the Texans can find those hidden gems once again this year, I am pretty confident our team will be consistently competitive fairly quickly.

I hope fans will share the patience that I am trying to diligently work on and not be the type of fan that is ready to lynch our draft picks out of town just because they didn’t have a Pro-Bowl type year in their first season of the NFL. I am guilty of it, I can’t deny that, but I think we get that way just because we want our team to win so badly. When our team shows professionalism and plays a good game, it effects our moods, even come Monday morning (or at least it does to me).

As fans, we can’t wait to read what the headlines say in the local or national papers about how our team played if they happened to win. If they lost, I usually don’t even pick up a paper. That’s what it’s all about.

If the Rockets, Astros, Aeros, Comets, or Oilers (now Texans) lost, it actually affected me in a way that dictated how my whole week was going to turn out. If they won, it was like I won with them and it was the greatest feeling. Even though I didn’t do anything except watch and cheer them on, it was still like being part of that squad.

I know I can’t be the only one that has ever felt that way. You don’t have to admit it, but I have attended too many Rockets and Astros playoff games to know that I am not the only person in H-town that gets emotionally wrapped up in our sports teams.

One of these seasons, either now or a few years or more, our Texans are going to be good enough to win the division or at least take the Wild Card and make the playoffs. No team stays out of the playoffs forever. Some teams take longer than others to get really competitive. Analysts and commentators said all of last season that the AFC South is the hardest division in football. I don’t think so.

I don’t think it’s any harder or more competitive than other divisions in the AFC or NFC. How is the AFC South more difficult? Because of Peyton? Because of VY? Because of Maurice-Jones Drew? Of course these are good players. I don’t dispute that, but they can be beaten. The Texans have shown that the other teams in our division can be beaten.

It’s already been proven that if a DL and fast skilled linebackers keep putting constant pass-rushing pressure on a QB, it throws his and the entire team’s sync off rhythm. It’s been proven that VY can’t win at the NFL level on his own. He needs receivers to throw to. The Jaguars are a good team, but outside of their media-hyped and talented runningbacks, the Texans have beaten Jacksonville on plenty of occasions. (I will also give kudos to their defense).

So what are we waiting for? The Texans have quite a bit of holes to fill, but what they have is one of the best young DL’s in the entire NFL. They have the potential of having a solid QB in Matt Schaub (if he can stay durable). Our Texans have one of the best underrated wideouts in Andre Johnson in the entire league.

Owen Daniels is molding into a nice and solid tight end. Andre Davis has proven all the doubters this past season. What’s not to be hopeful about the Texans? Building a good foundation in a team doesn’t happen overnight. It takes not getting overly hyped on signing big-name free agents and it takes very good scouting skills to see what draft prospects fit the mold of the Texans’ system.

Whether they are drafted in the first round or seventh round, I don’t put much stock into that. I have seen plenty of late rounders become way more successful at the NFL level than first round draft picks. The college level is night and day from the professional game, so the different rounds really are just a hype machine for the big networks to fill space with for advertising dollars and excitement for fans.

I truly think we have finally turned a corner and are about to see the Texans as a totally different type of team than what we witnessed in the first few years of the franchise. I am not guaranteeing playoffs or division titles just yet. I am just stating that it feels like a different team that is on its way to being taken seriously both locally and nationally.

AFC South teams additions and losses

Colts (Players Re-signed)

—TE Dallas Clark (tendered at $4.522M; then signed 6-year contract).

—DT Ed Johnson: ERFA; $370,000/1 yr.

—OG Ryan Lilja: Potential UFA; terms unknown.

—S Bob Sanders: Potential UFA; $37.5M/5 yrs, $20M guaranteed.

—QB Jim Sorgi: Potential UFA; terms unknown.

—DE Josh Thomas: UFA; terms unknown.

Colts (Players Lost)

—DT Dan Klecko: UFA Eagles; terms unknown.

—DT Anthony McFarland (released/failed physical).

—LB Rob Morris (released/failed physical).

—OG Jake Scott: UFA Titans; $19.5M/4 yrs, $4M SB/$2M RB.

Colts (Players Acquired)

None

Jaguars (Players Re-signed)

—TE Richard Angulo: Potential UFA; terms unknown.

—LB Tony Gilbert: Potential UFA; terms unknown.

—RB Montell Owens: ERFA; terms unknown.

—OL Tutan Reyes: Potential UFA; terms unknown.

—T/G Maurice Williams: UFA; $16M/4 yrs, $4M guaranteed

Jaguars (Players Lost)

—S Sammy Knight: UFA Giants; $5.15M/3 yrs, $1.25M SB.

—DE Bobby McCray: UFA Saints; 5 yrs, terms unknown.

—OG Chris Naeole (released/failed physical).

—DT Marcus Stroud (traded Bills).

—RB LaBrandon Toefield: UFA Panthers; 1 yr, terms unknown.

—WR Ernest Wilford: UFA Dolphins; $13M/4 yrs, $6M guaranteed.

Jaguars (Players Acquired)

—QB Todd Bouman: FA; terms unknown.

—CB Drayton Florence: UFA Chargers; $36M/6 yrs, $12M SB.

—DT Jimmy Kennedy: UFA Bears (Bears had individually negotiated right of first refusal and did not match); $655,000/1 yr, $50,000 SB.

(UPDATE: Sunday March 23) – The Texans have signed QB Quinn Gray. This appears to indicate that Sage could be going on the trading block. (although it’s only speculation at this point)

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(UPDATE: Monday March 24) – Texans signedQB Quinn Gray to a one-year, $645,000 contract. Gray, 28, went 2-2 as a starter in place of David Garrard (ankle) last year. His TD:INT ratio was 10:5 and YPA a decent 6.8, but Gray completed only 55.6% of his passes. His accuracy is his biggest downfall. Still, the athletic former Jaguar is capable of being an average to above average No. 2 quarterback. The Vikings offered a third-round pick for current Texans backup Sage Rosenfels in late February. Expect talks to rekindle on or before draft day.

“(Quinn) Gray has no baring on Rosenfels: Gray’s signing doesn’t change the Texans’ stance on trading backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels. They want a second-round choice from the Vikings, who have offered a third for Rosenfels. Gray signed for the NFL minimum so financially he could be the third-string quarterback. Houston wanted to bring three experienced quarterbacks to camp so it is set. Minnesota is hoping the Texans might change their position during the draft and surrender Rosenfels for a No. 3″.